New findings published in Knowledge Share 001 by the Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) highlight a persistent challenge across construction projects: inadequate coordination of MEP services within compartment walls during the early design stages.
The PFKG report identifies that poor consideration of service positioning, separation distances and opening sizes often makes it difficult to install tested or certified penetration sealing systems later in the project. This can result in compliance risks, redesign, costly remedial works and delays during construction.
Recommendation: Improved Modelling and Early Coordination
To address this issue, the PFKG recommends the development of a modelling guide to support better MEP design coordination and architectural space planning. Early alignment between designers and specialists can ensure that services are correctly positioned and separated, and that openings are appropriately sized to allow compliant passive fire protection solutions to be installed.
New Early Design Guidance in Development
Building on this recommendation, the PFKG has partnered with the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) to develop practical early design guidance that directly addresses these challenges.
The work is well advanced, and publication of the new guidance by the ASFP is expected early next year. The guidance will support designers, specifiers and contractors in delivering compliant, buildable solutions while helping to reduce risk and avoid unnecessary cost.
FIS maintains a list of critical safety alerts from CROSS, PFKG and issued directly through FIS that are relevant to our community through our Building Safety Toolkit here.